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New Drug Approved to Combat Obesity in Dogs
Dr. Allan J. PaulApril 10, 2007
Estimates show that as many as one-fourth of the dogs in the United States are overweight. About one in 20 is obese, weighing 20 percent more than their ideal weight. Obesity is related to serious health problem including diabetes mellitus, orthopedic problems, and cardiovascular disease.
In early January the Food and Drug Administration approved the first-ever drug for the management of obesity in dogs in the United States. Made by Pfizer, Inc., of New York, N.Y., the product is called Slentrol (its generic name is dirlotapide). It will be available only by prescription from a veterinarian. Here is some more information from the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine about this new drug.
The drug is given to the dog in varying amounts over the course of the treatment. The dog is evaluated by the veterinarian after the first 14 days on Slentrol and at monthly intervals thereafter to adjust the dose depending on the dog's weight loss. Ultimately the drug is discontinued, and the dog's goal weight is maintained through appropriate food intake and physical activity.
Slentrol is a new chemical entity, called a selective microsomal triglyceride transfer protein inhibitor, that blocks the assembly and release of lipoproteins into the bloodstream. Scientists do not completely understand the drug's mechanism for producing weight loss, but it seems to result from reduced fat absorption and by providing a satiety signal from lipid-filled cells lining the dog's intestine.
Adverse reactions include vomiting, loose stools, diarrhea, lethargy, and loss of appetite.
The product is not for use in humans. It carries the standard warning, "Not for use in humans. Keep this and all drugs out of reach of children." The labeling also cites adverse reactions associated with human use, including abdominal distention, abdominal pain, diarrhea, flatulence, headache, nausea, and vomiting.
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